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Marshall named Coach of Year & McDermott Player of Year

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall directs Ron Baker (31) against Indiana State in an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference men's tournament, Sunday, March 9, 2014, in St. Louis. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Bill Boyce

AP Coach of Year: Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Gregg Marshall, whose Wichita State team was the first to reach the NCAA tournament undefeated in 33 years, has been selected The Associated Press’ coach of the year.

The Shockers entered the tournament at 34-0 and as a No. 1 seed. They became the first team in NCAA men’s history to win its first 35 games. They lost to Kentucky in the third round and fell short of matching Indiana in 1976 as the last unbeaten national champion.

Marshall led the Shockers to a No. 2 ranking in the final poll and to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles. For the fifth straight season, the Shockers won at least 25 games.

Marshall received 44 votes Thursday from the same 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Tony Bennett of Virginia had 13 votes, Billy Donovan of Florida drew six and John Beilein of Michigan and Larry Brown of SMU one each. Voting ended on Selection Sunday.

AP Player of Year: Creighton’s Doug McDermott

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Doug McDermott, who finished his career at Creighton as college basketball’s fifth-leading scorer, is a near-unanimous selection as The Associated Press’ player of the year.

McDermott is the 11th three-time All-American and first in almost 30 years. He led the nation in scoring with a 26.7 average while shooting 52.6 percent from the field including 44.9 percent from 3-point range.

The 6-foot-8 McDermott averaged 7.0 rebounds in leading the Bluejays to a 27-8 record in their first season as a member of the Big East. He finished his career with 3,150 points.

McDermott received 64 votes Thursday from the same 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Russ Smith of Louisville got the other vote. The voting ended on Selection Sunday.

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